Ronald Koeman says Wayne Rooney proved he is "still one of the best in his position" with Saturday's match-winning display for Everton.

Rooney took the decision to leave Manchester United after 13 years in the summer to rejoin Everton, who he inspired to victory on his first Premier League appearance for the club in 4,837 days. The 31-year-old, who had been short of regular first-team football at United, nodded home at the end of a fine team move late in the first half to secure victory against Stoke and impressed with his all-round display at Goodison Park.

-He shows that he's still one of the best in his position. I think he was different class in ball possession -he was comfortable on the ball, he took right, good decisions on the ball and he scored a great goal. And you cannot ask more [than] that, he said.

Rooney had already made his competitive return for Everton against MFK Ruzomberok in the third qualifying round of the Europa League -- a competition he won with United last season.